It can be hard to find a church home while dealing with the incarceration of a loved one. Even folks who have been active in a church may find folks, uncertain of the right thing to say or do, do nothing or even avoid the suffering family. In their defense, it is not exactly like a new baby or a hospice referral where there is a track to run on, but hopefully as churches become more involved in prison ministry we will get a little better at reaching out for families and individuals caught up in the legal system and all that entails.

But what about a family who has drifted away from church or may have never attended a church? Do they call the church office and ask if the congregation is safe for their children and themselves? Will the body of Christ open their arms and hearts to love on the family without expecting the children to express disdain for their incarcerated family member? Will they respect the family's privacy? Will they offer hopeful and practical contact with the incarcerated loved one? If they don't know how to do all that are they willing to learn? No, even the best church secretary would be challenged to field that call!

So here is what I want to suggest to you who understand this journey. Speak up and teach your church home about your journey. Reach out and welcome a family struggling. Pray for your church home that they might find a heart for this ministry. Ask God to lead you to folks to whom you can be the hands and feet of God as they struggle with growing their faith in the midst of chaos. Support prison ministry programs in local churches and, denominational programs; support jail chaplains and international service organizations with your prayers, dollars, external involvement, in-prison programs and post-release programs.

God did not send you on this journey to destroy you, but rather to empower you to be a part of God's great plan to seek and to save people who are lost.